Blue Diamond garden centres' group finance director and company secretary Richard Hemans has successfully gained admission as a chartered director, the Institute of Directors' prestigious qualification for company directors and board members.
Gained following a rigorous two-year process, the qualification verifies candidates' understanding and knowledge of the role of a director and of the board across the areas of strategy, finance, leadership and stakeholder management.

Mr Hemans, who is a chartered accountant, said: "I've enjoyed the experience immensely and look forward to applying what I've learnt in my executive role at Blue Diamond and perhaps one or two non-executive positions.

"This has been a very rewarding and challenging process that I would recommend wholeheartedly to both aspiring and incumbent company directors."